Finland-based Iran diplomat ‘defects’ in protest against regime

LONDON - An Iranian diplomat based in Finland has reportedly defected after quitting his job in protest at the Islamic Republic’s treatment of its citizens.

Hossein Alizadeh said he was the deputy head of mission at the embassy in Finnish capital Helsinki. He said he informed the embassy four days ago of his decision to quit after staying off the job for nearly a month.

“I don’t consider myself anymore a diplomat standing beside a brutal Iranian regime,” The Telegraph quoted Alizadeh, as saying.

He declared himself a “political dissident”.

Alizadeh said he was considering how to move forward, and added that he had so far not applied for political asylum.

Finland’s Foreign Ministry said it was unaware of Alizadeh’s case.

Alizadeh is the second Iranian diplomat in Europe to have quit his job in protest against Tehran’s policies and crackdown on citizens.

Iranian consular official Mohammed Reza Heydari left his post in Oslo, Norway, in January, and was granted political asylum in that country. (ANI)